One of the hardest parts of preparing for any entrance exam is right at the beginning – paying for study materials. Today, commercial prep courses cost more than ever. For some professional exams, like the CPA exam and PE exam, prep courses can cost north of $3,000.
For many students living on shoestring budget, this simply isn’t feasible. They can’t afford prep courses that cost thousands of dollars (or perhaps even hundreds of dollars). So today, we’re going to explore a few options for prepping on the cheap.
Look For Discounts
My first tip before completely writing of commercial prep courses is to look for discounts. Oftentimes, especially around major holidays, prep companies will run steep discounts. This can occasionally bring the price of otherwise outrageously priced courses into the “doable” range.
For example, Princeton Review frequently runs major sales around holidays that can lower the cost of a course by 50% or more. For basic self-paced courses, this can drop the price into the low hundreds of dollars, making them affordable for some.
University Classes
A go-to resource for students not wanting to drop any money is university classes. Oftentimes, universities will provide direct, in-person classes for their own students. Universities want to encourage students to attend graduate school (especially if they will stay at their college and keep paying tuition fees), so they offer free classes.
These classes often cover the biggest entrance exams for graduate school, such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT and LSAT. Classes are typically held on campus, taught by a tutor, and last anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks.
These classes provide access to free practice exams, direct instruction and, generally, used books. Though the coverage of material usually isn’t as thorough as a commercial course, these university classes can nonetheless be highly effective.
Khan Academy
Another trusted favorite for free study materials is Khan Academy. A 501(C)(3) non-profit organization established years ago, Khan provides tons of free resources for students. This includes written study notes, video lessons, practice questions, and more. Though generally not as robust as a prep course, the Khan study materials can be an awesome supplemental resource.
The video lectures are generally very high-quality and go into great detail. Moreover, the written study notes provide in-depth instruction and analysis, assuming you are a text-based type of learner.
YouTube & Reddit
Another resource worth exploring is YouTube and Reddit. No matter what exam you are preparing for, you can generally find hundreds of free videos on YouTube providing study tips and tools. The only issue with YouTube is that different channel creators provide different approaches to prepping and solving exam problems.
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Some content creators view prep differently, and consequently, provide different prep approaches. This can be frustrating.
Likewise Reddit can also be a hotbed of free study material. Generous Reddit users, once done with their own exam, are usually kind enough to share their cheat sheets, outlines and notes. If you can find a good cheat sheet on Reddit, it can be worth its weight in gold. The only issue once again is synthesizing disparate information into a usable form.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that using a comprehensive prep course is the optimal approach to exam prep. Their materials are generally better organized and deeper. However, there are tons of free, solid resources online today. Between Reddit, YouTube, Khan Academy and university classes, you very well may be able to cobble together an effective study plan and bundle of study tools. Best of luck!
The short version: Free and cheap exam study materials are everywhere if you know where to look, from library databases and open courseware sites to student forums where people share past papers and notes. Spending less on prep materials does not mean sacrificing quality, because some of the best resources cost nothing at all. A smart search strategy will save you real money while keeping your study plan on track.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find free exam study materials online?
Start with your library's digital portal, which often includes access to paid databases, e-books, and practice tests at no cost. Sites like Khan Academy, OpenStax, and MIT OpenCourseWare offer structured study content across a wide range of subjects. Student communities on Reddit and Discord are also worth checking, as members regularly share notes, past papers, and revision guides.
Are cheap study materials worth buying?
Yes, many affordable options are just as effective as expensive prep courses. Older editions of official study guides often sell for a fraction of the current price and cover the same core content. Bundled digital packages from publishers frequently go on sale, so setting a price alert can help you grab them at the right moment.
How do I know if a free resource is reliable?
Check whether the material is produced or endorsed by a recognized institution, official exam body, or subject expert. Look at publication dates to confirm the content matches the current exam syllabus. Reading reviews from other students who have used the resource for the same exam is one of the fastest ways to judge its value.
Can past exam papers really help me prepare?
Past papers are among the most effective study tools available because they show you the exact format, question style, and difficulty level you will face. Many official exam boards publish free past papers on their websites, and working through them under timed conditions builds both knowledge and confidence.
